Mask, unbeaten in two starts for Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, is expected to resume serious training soon but is off the Kentucky Derby trail, according to Bill Farish of Lane's End Racing, which owns the son of Tapit.

Mask has not breezed since Jan. 20 at Palm Meadows training center in Florida while being pointed to the Feb. 17 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. An undisclosed setback in late January knocked him out of that race, but Farish on Wednesday said Mask “is doing well and should be coming up on a breeze very soon.”

The setback cost Mask too much training time, and Farish confirmed what many people already assumed. “He is off the Derby trail,” Farish said.

Glad to hear that Hollywood Star is working well, even though it's great he worked well on the turf I hope he tries the dirt again sometime. I saw him in the saddling paddock before the Sam F Davis at TBD and just loved him...he's huge!

BaroqueAgain1 wrote:The lead pony in Justify's work is one of Baffert's hunky little reining QH's. IIRC, the buckskin is Smoky...but I can't remember the palomino's name. They've been discussed on this forum before, and there may even be some photos somewhere, way back in these threads. Wasn't Smoky AP's constant companion?

Yep he quickly rose to fame because of it... that and his almost constant grump-face from having to deal with 3yo TB colts all the time
I think BB demonstrated a reining spin on him once iirc.

During AP's Triple Crown run they broadcast a film clip of Smoky in a reining futurity competition before Baffert bought him...he was pretty good.

BaroqueAgain1 wrote:The lead pony in Justify's work is one of Baffert's hunky little reining QH's. IIRC, the buckskin is Smoky...but I can't remember the palomino's name. They've been discussed on this forum before, and there may even be some photos somewhere, way back in these threads. Wasn't Smoky AP's constant companion?

Yep he quickly rose to fame because of it... that and his almost constant grump-face from having to deal with 3yo TB colts all the time
I think BB demonstrated a reining spin on him once iirc.

During AP's Triple Crown run they broadcast a film clip of Smoky in a reining futurity competition before Baffert bought him...he was pretty good.

stark wrote:Dylan Davis, who has been on fire at Aqueduct this winter, has picked up a plum assignment for the Gotham Stakes. He has been tabbed to ride San Vicente winner Kanthaka in that March 10 race at Aqueduct, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Monday.

"We got the leading rider there," Hollendorfer said.

Kanthaka was ridden by Flavien Prat in the San Vicente, but Prat is committed to stay at Santa Anita on March 10 for a blockbuster card, headed by the Santa Anita Handicap. Prat will ride male turf champ World Approval in the Kilroe Mile that day.

scratch that

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is changing plans for his 3-year-olds, opting to keep Kanthaka in California for the Grade 2, $400,000 San Felipe while deciding to send Afleet Ascent to the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham at Aqueduct. Both races are March 10.

Kanthaka is coming off a 3 1-4-length victory in the Grade 2 San Vicente at Santa Anita on Feb. 10. The San Felipe, at 1 1-16-miles, will be his first try around two turns. Flavien Prat will retain the mount.

“We can keep our same rider and he won on this racetrack,” Hollendorfer said Thursday from Santa Anita.

Afleet Ascent, meanwhile, will return to the dirt for the first time since he finished third going 5 1-2 furlongs at Los Alamitos. He most recently finished second in the Baffle Stakes going 6 1-2 furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita on Feb. 18. The Gotham is run as a one-turn mile race.

Dylan Davis, who was to ride Kanthaka in the Gotham, will ride Afleet Ascent.

Biblical, the $800,000 Tapit half to Princess of Sylmar, just won the 12th at Gulfstream, a 1 1/16-mile AOC for 3yos on the dirt. Coming from the back of the field, he just cruised by his stablemate Regal Quality. Not sure what Pletcher has planned for the pricey boy, but I suspect that China Horse Club hoped that they paid for a Derby horse, so I wouldn't be shocked if we see him in one of the April preps.

Remsen winner Catholic Boy, second in the Sam Davis Stakes in the first of his two Kentucky Derby preps this year, will use the Florida Derby on March 31 at Gulfstream Park as his final prep, John Panagot, the racing manager for majority owner Robert LaPenta, said Tuesday.

"Timing-wise it's the best and everybody on the team seems to agree," Panagot said.

The Florida Derby is five weeks in front of the Kentucky Derby. The other race that had been considered for Catholic Boy was the Louisiana Derby on March 24 at Fair Grounds.